Sathya Sai Baba and the truth about God

To get any understanding of an unknown phenomenon, we have to express what we think it may be in terms of known phenomena. But the supreme of unknowns – God – is constantly expressed in terms of equally unknown and intangible things…. omniscience, omnipotence,  heaven or hell, salvation, total realisation, omnipresence, infinity, everlasting time and so on.

Consequently, there is no chance of attaining to understanding – let alone definitive proof – of any supreme being. Sathya Sai Baba was smart enough to realise that, so he makes a virtue of the ineffable mystery! No one could plumb the nature of God (i.e. of himself) as it is ‘beyond anyone’s understanding’. One had to have unshaken belief, engage in lifelong prayer, repetition of names, visualisation of a divine form and other mind-dulling activities (with the exception of doing constant social service) if one were ever to ‘know’ God.

One has to have intense faith that these ways produce results and must practice them assiduously for anything up a lifetime, by which it is too late to do anything about it if one finds it does not lead to what it claimed. Sathya Sai Baba, despite his humongous claims and prophesies about himself, did not fulfil them, even dying after multiple organ failure and huge weight loss long before he stated he would.

It was a requirement in the Sathya Sai Organisation to believe that he was divine, omnipotent and omniscient. It depends on how you define omnipresence, or imagine it. There are lots of quotes about it by Sai Baba, but they do not make a coherent account. His close servitor, famous former newsman V.K. Narasimhan, was (mostly privately) adamant that he was neither all-knowing nor all-powerful. He could not state these views while he lived in the ashram as it was totally against what Sai Baba claimed and a vast majority of those who approached Sai Baba believed. (This is evident from years of talking to people about him at the ashrams, in Sai groups in Europe and in the entire hagiographic literature and countless former on-line discussions).

Those who follow many Hindu gurus (I cannot speak for all) exist in the mental equivalent of delirium, something they do not recognise for what it is because they have been entrapped from childhood in a multi-faceted sphere of unfounded beliefs, handed down superstitions, rituals and prohibitions. A large section of the Indian population share a culture of this kind, one which has counterparts in other mainstream religions, but hardly to the same degree (except in extreme sects).

Intense forms of worship, unreflecting absorption of beliefs and doctrines or supposedly ‘spiritual’ practices to enhance awareness of divinity or lead to self-realisation and transcendence of all worldly desires and ills, lead to a cognitive torpor from which release becomes ever more difficult. The motivation to wish to recognise or seek the situation and its root causes is soon absent and it may require a traumatic experience or major personal shocks to reverse the process of dependency on religious panaceas.

The attraction of the idea that there is a wonderful all-powerful, all good universal What-Not can in many people feel as compelling as the love of one’s mother and father, as the realisation of all one’s (good) dreams and even the instinct for survival (especially after death, preferably in some unknown heaven). History demonstrates that this is one of the greatest weaknesses of humanity, causing endless confusion, delusion, individual suffering, and the horrors of conflicts and the devastation of religiously-inspired wars.

See also  V.K. Narasimhan, serious doubts at the heart of the ashram

A God is Dead – New York Times corrected

Who was Sathya Sai Baba – really?

The almost undisturbed positive reputation for decades of Sathya Sai Baba as a holy man and avatar – until 2000 – was achieved by him through his acute perceptions of people and manipulation of them made possible once the coterie around him was established to make him invulnerable to exposure or criticism. Above all, he was by and large a very sharp judge of people’s personal strengths and weaknesses. He could immediately recognise a threat to his hegemony and also the slightest critical attitude towards him or his many indoctrinating ‘teachings’. As his control of his following grew to near totalitarian proportions, no one was allowed near him who he decided was unwelcome. He always kept people waiting, for hours before darshan, for weeks, months even years for an interview. He also revelled in his power over important people, as witnessed strikingly by what he told Anil Kumar (see excerpt from his talks at foot of blog).

The key to acceptance by him was total obeisance, whereupon one may be invited to a group interview. In advance of that, visitors were vetted for their attitudes through a variety of subtle means. Identifying them, discovering their backgrounds, likely importance and wealth, began with the registration process at the ashram which included surrender of passport for official checks, diverse questioning and assessment by the loyal staff at the various offices through which visitors had to apply (public relations, accommodation office etc.). This was backed up by covert surveillance of visitors through the large ashram staff of workers and selected service volunteers, plus undercover security personnel, all of whom reported any suspicious activities, overheard opinions or details of likely interest to the ashram authorities. Useful information was given to Sai Baba first thing every morning by the head of the ashram or deputies (before he went out to be seen (darshan) in public and inspect the gathering.

Among those waiting on the veranda or in the darshan lines were always many of his more or less trusted VIP persons, leaders of his organisation and institutions and of the visiting groups from the various nations (with their identifying scarves). He would glean information about the groups from them in brief exchanges before eventually choosing one or another group and individuals for the morning interview. The same procedure followed in the afternoon darshan and interview session.

One of his main actions during darshan was to collect letters proffered to him in their hundreds every day. These contained the private communications and requests of the writers, no doubt often very revealing of their real personalities on which he could base his decisions about interviews and, not least, note obscure details which he could later use as evidence of ‘all-knowingness’ in group interviews.

He made great use of promises (seldom kept, but mostly considered a part of his ‘inscrutable mystery’). He would raise hopes by vague assent to questions through smiles, nods, even winks. He made great use markedly ignoring people he was either ‘softening up’ for some purpose, while rejecting others outright. Expressions of anger and corrective stares were not uncommon. In some instances he would say a flattering thing to a person or welcome a newcomer effusively, and to their astonishment sometimes by name. Yet lists of names of new visitors were frequently given him in advance by his minions. For example, I was once asked by a close servitor of his to compile such a list for presentation to him in expectation of a group interview. I was also asked by that person (VKN) if certain persons from my part of the world had arrived yet, or were on their way, because Swami was eager to know! Yet he claimed to be omniscient. All part of his educating us to his ‘uncertainty’, keeping us on our spiritual toes by his ‘pretending’ to have ordinary human traits. Oh, the despicability of it all!

The above techniques, extremely effective in commanding obedient obeisance, were still only preliminaries to his more thorough deceits and manipulations. He had at his command the resources to bribe persons he decided were indoctrinated and least wilful enough to be used tools to his own ends. The bribes were often clever; he would mark out persons of some influence he thought easily manipulated and give them privileges such as a free apartment, some valuable golden statue (note the huge golden cricket cup given to Tendulkar), or all manner of supposedly ‘divine’ amulets and baubles. He gave rings to person who were estimated beforehand to be capable of thanking him with large donations… clever deception in the age-long Indian tradition. For seriously necessary cover-ups the bribes were often huge (and he had obtained the means and more under false ‘miraculous’ pretences). See how he silenced his extended family with huge sums on his murder involvement in 1993 (documented here).

The entire mental-emotional control system is embedded in Sai teachings in dozens of ways, always making Sai Baba seem responsible for nothing untoward, but only for good events, while he always contradictorily claimed he was all-powerful! Everyone else but Sai Baba was at fault and the cause of all their own ills. This ‘spiritual agenda’ of self-denial and glorification of Sai Baba induces further self-indoctrination towards utter self-denial and divorce from normal human life and rights by those who humbly try to follow it. It leads to nervous and social breakdowns, often of a tragic kind (except among the hypocritical devotees who ignore any divine directives as they see fit).

The above only describes a selection of Sai Baba’s deceptions. Read more:-

SATHYA SAI BABA’S DELUDING TECHNIQUE – ‘MAYA’
FRAUD, LEGARDEMAIN, RUMOUR-SPREADING & LIES BY SAI BABA

The Prashanthi Nilayam clown, Anil Kumar Kamaraju employs humour and stories to draw Sai followers, and the result is often very revealing of his Lord and Master, such as:-

“Then Bhagavan said, “The President from Sri Lanka came this morning and yesterday. Her brother was here. He is to become President very soon.” Swami was saying this, “President from Sri Lanka, she and her brother – they’re all here.”

“Further, He said, “Very soon you’ll find the Prince of Kashmir, Sardar Karan Singh. He’ll be visiting here. Do you know Karan Singh?”

Anil Kumar replied: “Karan Singh is known to everybody, Swami. He was the Minister for External Affairs for some time and Ambassador to the United States for some time.” Then, the most important point I’m yet to mention. “Then he addressed the International Cardiologist Conference here in Prashanti Nilayam. The International Conference of Cardiothorastic [sic] Surgeons Conference – heart specialists – was held here twice, and Karan Singh was Chief Guest once.”

Kumar then concludes that  “… this is important, the third important statement: “All want to be here. All VIPs, heads of governments, many, many people want to be here. But still I’m not giving them ample chances. I am not permitting them to be here. They’re all waiting … waiting for Swami’s permission.””  (See source http://www.saibaba.ws/ak_satsang/2002/2002Sep01.htm)

Indulal Shah deserts the Prashanthi Nilayam faithful

The pro sukshma baba web site http://www.bhajanmusic.info/ recently informed:
“On the morning of the 31st JULY 2015, Gurupurnima celebrations in Muddenahalli, a symbolic Bhumi puja for the Sri Sathya Sai Sarala Memorial hospital was conducted. Sri Indulal Shah (94 years) did the honors of unveiling the plaque for the future general hospital in memory of his late wife Sarala. Sri Indulal Shah with agreement from his daughter and son-in-law gave a cheque for 1 crore rupees to begin the building of the hospital. He also gave his mansion, Sai Darshan, towards the hospital project. ”

One whopping great CRORE rupees (about $214,000) from Indulal Shah, he’s one rich Indian karma yogi seva dude(!). No wonder the Trust is angry at money diverted to the subtle baba! Though, that’s not much money when it comes to building a hospital. Methinks a good percentage of that will go into the pockets of sukshma baba staff. Prof. Anil Kumar and Dr. G. Venkataraman have plenty of experience of such things – like free cars and other donated benefits, and are calling to Muddenahalli followers rather desperately for unity of all Sai Baba believers.

“Dr Sudhakar, an MLA in the state of Karnataka, in his speech, promised to get 5 to 6 acres of land from the State Govt for building the SSS Sarala Memorial Hospital.

Note that the Bhoomi Puja was only SYMBOLIC because they don’t even have the land yet!

Swami asked the MLA to get land from the Govt, for a water project for Chikballapur and Kollar by His coming birthday. Both these districts have a lot of drought and so, face water problems. Swami said that when the land is given, Swamy will get the project of diverting the Cauvery river to these districts completed in 8 months.”

The whole Rayalaseema water scheme has famously failed and Puttaparthi suffers chronic drought. Furthermore, when a MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) graciously promised to cheat the govt out of several acres of land for the hospital, oracle boy further demanded MORE land for a water project! That’s one LESS MLA at Puttaparthi functions, again, probably enraging the Trust.

Who would have thought that such a ridiculous venture as ‘subtle baba’ would draw so many? So much for evolution, these shenanigans have been going on for tens of thousands of years and there’s more suckers born all the time…

Subtle Baba not so subtle after all, but substantial?

The new hall being built at Muddenahalli is called a ‘darshan’ hall.

A visitor remarked, “I thought “Darshan” meant “SEEING someone” but they seem to have redefined it to mean “The imagination of seeing something”. The ridiculousness of stretching the imagination!! Sadly, the devotees can only do this in .0001% of the lies sb constantly told. All the other lies have never found “fulfillment,” despite the amount of stretchy-ness one might have.

Indeed, it could at best only be designated a ‘Subtle darsan Hall’!

What do these bogus spiritual entrepreneurs mean by “subtle baba” – some kind of immaterial spirit that comes and goes? No, they explain it as  basically a body just like a physical body, that does not disappear into the astral world and return, but it has to travel by car and bus to get anywhere just like a physical body. Thus, the “Swami is coming, Swami is going” mentality. So the ex-student Madhu Sudan who parades as Suksma Sai, must be inhabited by a second body, (otherwise he must have been eliminated and taken over totally by Sathya Sai Baba?). It is promised “subtle baba” will remain only until “age 96” (by solar reckoning, not lunar years any longer!). But if the scam continues to be as successful as it seems now, the bets are off whether they will update this till another future date (of course, proving it is really Sai Baba because conveniently changing his mind and being unpredictable and lying was his signature personality).

Meanwhile, the spokesmen (never women) of the diminishing Prashanthi Nilayam crowd, such as the trumpeting Anil Kumar, were reduced to making humble appeals in vain to the ever richer Muddenahalli breakaway culprits:-

AN APPEAL TO MUDDENAHLLI GROUP: PLEASE UNITE FOR SWAMI’S SAKE:

As Muddenahalli crisis is further deepenening creating an utter confusion to devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prof.Anil Kumar, the blessed translator for over 3 decades makes a humble appeal to the Muddenahalli group to follow Swami’s teachings and bring in unity amongst devotees instead of creating division in the Organisation.

One commentator, one John Smith, made a point: “I would have thought if Swami was going to appear in his light body he would do so to the many hundreds of  well known close devotees at Prashanti not to a handful of not so well known at Muddenahalli. Its hard to believe Swami would feel the need to do this,even to arrive in a car  and they even open the door to let him out !!!! its daft.  Swami has left enough teachings, in his own books, discourses, hundreds of others books,videos. There simply no need for any more teachings, let alone a light body giving yet more teachings and confusing everybody. and they are collecting money it seems, something Swami was dead against. They are at best deluded or downright dishonest…  this is a circus. We must let Swami’s body go, its dead, get over it. The real Swami is in our hearts, as “wisdom eyes” no need to see Swami with physical eyes, unless he wills it, one to one.“

‘Wisdom eyes’ in our hearts’. Go tell that one to the Marines! Those who follow Sai Baba and most other Hindu gurus exist in the mental equivalent of delirium that they do not recognise because they have been entrapped from childhood in a sphere of unfounded beliefs and handed down superstitions. A large section of the Indian population share a culture of this kind, which of course also has counterparts in other mainstream religions.

‘Modern Miracles’ by Haraldsson and peer reviews

An authoritative peer review of Dr. E. Haraldsson’s revised book ‘Modern Miracles’ (2013) has been published in the Journal for Psychic Studies. See here

Also, backing up this review is my new analysis of the many and serious failings of Professor Erlendur Haraldsson’s revised book ‘Modern Miracles’.
The faults in it necessitated a long and thoroughly detailed critique, so to aid readers, links to locate main themes in it are given here:-

How well did Haraldsson know Sai Baba?

EH’s ineffective ‘scientific investigation’ and coverage of the materialisation issue

Haraldsson’s lack of knowledge of India, Hinduism and esoteric practices

My exposure of Haraldsson’s ‘double-accounting’

Haraldsson’s damage-limitation visit to Puttaparthi

Haraldsson’s friendliness and endorsement of the Prashanthi Nilayam cultists

Haraldsson’s original investigation (reported in ‘Miracles are My Visiting Cards’)

Peer review – the scientific reputation of EH’s book

‘Lingam regurgitation’ undetected by EH!

Ninteen other issues, evidence or key witnesses Haraldsson signally failed to address

Haraldsson challenged by Professor Beyerstein and Basava Premanand

Parapsychological motivations and extra-scientific theorising

Summing up Haraldsson on Sai Baba miracles